• Anthology of Discourses 1.9 Sutta Nipāta 1.9

With Hemavata Hemavatasutta

ā€œToday is the fifteenth day sabbath,ā€ ā€œAjja pannaraso uposatho, said Sātāgira, the native spirit of mount Sātā, (iti sātāgiro yakkho) ā€œa holy night is at hand. Dibbā ratti upaį¹­į¹­hitā; Come now, let us see Gotama, Anomanāmaṁ satthāraṁ, the Teacher of peerless name.ā€ Handa passāma gotamaį¹ā€.

ā€œIsn’t his mind well-disposed,ā€ ā€œKacci mano supaṇihito, said Hemavata, the native spirit of the Himalayas, (iti hemavato yakkho) ā€œimpartial toward all creatures? SabbabhÅ«tesu tādino; And aren’t his thoughts under control Kacci iį¹­į¹­he aniį¹­į¹­he ca, when it comes to likes and dislikes?ā€ Saį¹…kappassa vasÄ«katÄā€.

ā€œHis mind is well-disposed,ā€ ā€œMano cassa supaṇihito, said Sātāgira, (iti sātāgiro yakkho) ā€œimpartial towards all creatures. SabbabhÅ«tesu tādino; His thoughts are under control Atho iį¹­į¹­he aniį¹­į¹­he ca, when it comes to his likes and dislikes.ā€ Saį¹…kappassa vasÄ«katÄā€.

ā€œDoesn’t he not steal?ā€ ā€œKacci adinnaṁ nādiyati, said Hemavata, (iti hemavato yakkho) ā€œAnd doesn’t he harm not a creature? Kacci pāṇesu saƱƱato; Isn’t he far from negligence? Kacci ārā pamādamhā, And doesn’t he not neglect absorption?ā€ Kacci jhānaṁ na riƱcatiā€.

ā€œHe does not take what is not given,ā€ ā€œNa so adinnaṁ ādiyati, said Sātāgira, (iti sātāgiro yakkho) ā€œand he harms not a creature. Atho pāṇesu saƱƱato; He is far from negligence—Atho ārā pamādamhā, the Buddha does not neglect absorption.ā€ Buddho jhānaṁ na riƱcatiā€.

ā€œDoesn’t he avoid lying?ā€ ā€œKacci musā na bhaṇati, said Hemavata, (iti hemavato yakkho) ā€œAnd doesn’t he not speak sharply? Kacci na khīṇabyappatho; Doesn’t he avoid divisive speech, Kacci vebhÅ«tiyaṁ nāha, as well as speaking nonsense?ā€ Kacci samphaṁ na bhāsatiā€.

ā€œHe does not lie,ā€ ā€œMusā ca so na bhaṇati, said Sātāgira, (iti sātāgiro yakkho) ā€œnor does he speak sharply. Atho na khīṇabyappatho; He avoids divisive speech, Atho vebhÅ«tiyaṁ nāha, and thoughtfully speaks wise counsel.ā€ Mantā atthaƱca bhāsatiā€.

ā€œDoesn’t he find sensual pleasures unattractive?ā€ ā€œKacci na rajjati kāmesu, said Hemavata, (iti hemavato yakkho) ā€œAnd isn’t his mind unclouded? Kacci cittaṁ anāvilaṁ; Hasn’t he escaped delusion? Kacci mohaṁ atikkanto, Does his eye see clearly in all things?ā€ Kacci dhammesu cakkhumÄā€.

ā€œHe does not find sensual pleasures attractive,ā€ ā€œNa so rajjati kāmesu, said Sātāgira, (iti sātāgiro yakkho) ā€œand his mind is unclouded. Atho cittaṁ anāvilaṁ; He has escaped all delusion—Sabbamohaṁ atikkanto, the Buddha, whose eye sees clearly in all things.ā€ Buddho dhammesu cakkhumÄā€.

ā€œIsn’t he accomplished in knowledge?ā€ ā€œKacci vijjāya sampanno, said Hemavata, (iti hemavato yakkho) ā€œAnd doesn’t he live a pure life? Kacci saṁsuddhacāraṇo; Aren’t his defilements all ended? Kaccissa āsavā khīṇā, Doesn’t he have no future lives?ā€ Kacci natthi punabbhavoā€.

ā€œHe is accomplished in knowledge,ā€ ā€œVijjāya ceva sampanno, said Sātāgira, (iti sātāgiro yakkho) ā€œand he does live a pure life. Atho saṁsuddhacāraṇo; His defilements are all ended, Sabbassa āsavā khīṇā, there’ll be no more future lives for him.ā€ Natthi tassa punabbhavoā€.

ā€œAccomplished is the sage’s mind ā€œSampannaṁ munino cittaṁ, in action and in speech, Kammunā byappathena ca; and he’s accomplished in knowledge and conduct Vijjācaraṇasampannaṁ, as per the teaching you praise.ā€ Dhammato naṁ pasaṁsatiā€.

ā€œAccomplished is the sage’s mind ā€œSampannaṁ munino cittaṁ, in action and in speech, Kammunā byappathena ca; and he’s accomplished in knowledge and conduct Vijjācaraṇasampannaṁ, as per the teaching you rejoice in. Dhammato anumodasi.

Accomplished is the sage’s mind Sampannaṁ munino cittaṁ, in action and in speech, Kammunā byappathena ca; and he’s accomplished in knowledge and conduct: Vijjācaraṇasampannaṁ, come now, let us see Gotama.ā€ Handa passāma gotamaį¹ā€.

ā€œThe hero so lean, with antelope calves, ā€œEṇijaį¹…ghaṁ kisaṁ vÄ«raṁ, not greedy, eating little, Appāhāraṁ alolupaṁ; the sage meditating alone in the forest, Muniṁ vanasmiṁ jhāyantaṁ, come now, let us see Gotama. Ehi passāma gotamaṁ.

A giant, wandering alone like a lion, SÄ«haṁvekacaraṁ nāgaṁ, unconcerned for sensual pleasures, Kāmesu anapekkhinaṁ; let’s approach him and ask about Upasaį¹…kamma pucchāma, release from the snare of death.ā€ Maccupāsappamocanaṁ.

ā€œThe communicator, the instructor, Akkhātāraṁ pavattāraṁ, who has gone beyond all things, Sabbadhammāna pāraguṁ; Awakened, beyond enmity and fear, Buddhaṁ verabhayātÄ«taṁ, let us ask Gotama.ā€ Mayaṁ pucchāma gotamaį¹ā€.

ā€œWhat has the world arisen in?ā€ ā€œKismiṁ loko samuppanno, said Hemavata, (iti hemavato yakkho) What does it get close to? Kismiṁ kubbati santhavaṁ; By grasping what Kissa loko upādāya, is the world troubled in what?ā€ Kismiṁ loko vihaƱƱatiā€.

ā€œThe world’s arisen in six,ā€ ā€œChasu loko samuppanno, said the Buddha to Hemavata. (hemavatāti bhagavā) ā€œIt gets close to six. Chasu kubbati santhavaṁ; Derived from the six, Channameva upādāya, the world’s troubled in six.ā€ Chasu loko vihaƱƱatiā€.

ā€œWhat is that grasping ā€œKatamaṁ taṁ upādānaṁ, by which the world is troubled? Yattha loko vihaƱƱati; Tell us the exit when asked: Niyyānaṁ pucchito brÅ«hi, how is one released from all suffering?ā€ Kathaṁ dukkhā pamuccatiā€.

ā€œThe world has five kinds of sensual stimulation, ā€œPaƱca kāmaguṇā loke, and the mind is said to be the sixth. Manochaį¹­į¹­hā paveditā; When you’ve discarded desire for these, Ettha chandaṁ virājetvā, you’re released from all suffering. Evaṁ dukkhā pamuccati.

This is the exit from the world, Etaṁ lokassa niyyānaṁ, explained in accord with the truth. Akkhātaṁ vo yathātathaṁ; The way I’ve explained it is how Etaṁ vo ahamakkhāmi, you’re released from all suffering.ā€ Evaṁ dukkhā pamuccatiā€.

ā€œWho here crosses the flood, ā€œKo sÅ«dha tarati oghaṁ, Who crosses the deluge? Kodha tarati aṇṇavaṁ; Who, not standing and unsupported, Appatiį¹­į¹­he anālambe, does not sink in the deep?ā€ Ko gambhÄ«re na sÄ«datiā€.

ā€œSomeone who is always endowed with ethics, ā€œSabbadā sÄ«lasampanno, wise and serene, PaƱƱavā susamāhito; inwardly reflective, mindful, AjjhattacintÄ« satimā, crosses the flood so hard to cross. Oghaṁ tarati duttaraṁ.

Someone who desists from sensual perception, Virato kāmasaƱƱāya, who has escaped all fetters, Sabbasaṁyojanātigo; and has ended relish for rebirth, NandÄ«bhavaparikkhīṇo, does not sink in the deep.ā€ So gambhÄ«re na sÄ«datiā€.

ā€œBehold him of wisdom deep <j>who sees the subtle meaning, ā€œGambhÄ«rapaƱƱaṁ nipuṇatthadassiṁ, who has nothing, unattached to sensual life, AkiƱcanaṁ kāmabhave asattaṁ; everywhere free, Taṁ passatha sabbadhi vippamuttaṁ, the great seer treading the holy road. Dibbe pathe kamamānaṁ mahesiṁ.

Behold him of peerless name <j>who sees the subtle meaning, Anomanāmaṁ nipuṇatthadassiṁ, giver of wisdom, <j>unattached to the realm of sensuality: PaƱƱādadaṁ kāmālaye asattaṁ; see him, the all-knower, so very intelligent, Taṁ passatha sabbaviduṁ sumedhaṁ, the great seer treading the noble road.ā€ Ariye pathe kamamānaṁ mahesiṁ.

ā€œIt was a fine sight for us today, Sudiį¹­į¹­haṁ vata no ajja, a good dawn, a good rising, Suppabhātaṁ suhuį¹­į¹­hitaṁ; to see the Awakened One, Yaṁ addasāma sambuddhaṁ, the undefiled one who has crossed the flood. Oghatiṇṇamanāsavaṁ.

These thousand native spirits Ime dasasatā yakkhā, powerful and glorious, Iddhimanto yasassino; all go to you for refuge, Sabbe taṁ saraṇaṁ yanti, you are our supreme Teacher. Tvaṁ no satthā anuttaro.

We shall journey Te mayaṁ vicarissāma, village to village, peak to peak, Gāmā gāmaṁ nagā nagaṁ; paying homage to the Buddha, Namassamānā sambuddhaṁ, and the clear rightness of the teaching!ā€ Dhammassa ca sudhammatanā€ti.

Hemavatasuttaṁ navamaṁ.